Keynote Speaker Carlos Jennings talks about a rough start as a young man and how he turned things around, thanks to the Council of Thoughts and Actions (COTA) a grassroots movement that was started in 2008 by Ms. Risco Mention-Lewis, the Suffolk County deputy police commissioner.

Last month, our Project Excel Program held a grand End of Year ceremony that celebrated the accomplishments of a truly outstanding year. This year’s theme: “No Excuses: We are Unstoppable in Achieving our Goals” inspired students to conquer challenges presented with a commitment to success. We are so very proud of the talented students who accepted the “call to excellence” and equally grateful to the dedicated mentors who contributed to the program’s success. Project Excel is one of those special activities that proves just how much can be accomplished when students, staff, parents, and community members work as a collective team.